t's summer time here in sunny California, kids are off school and heading to the river or beach to have some fun. Tragedy struck this last weekend in my community... five of my kids junior-high and high school mates got in a car with a 38 year old who'd had "a few beers". He somehow lost control and rolled over and down into a ravine.

The kids were ages 10-14.
One girl lost her nose, cheek, ear and eye, another shattered her jaw and pelvis, a boy ended up with a crushed face and collapsed lung, another girl broke everything besides her legs, the other had walk-away injuries and was able to pull everyone from the upside down Jeep Patriot suv.

The driver is messed up enough that it will be a while before he is transferred from hospital to prison. No word yet on the culpability of the parents but it sounds like they decided that the teens should ride with the 38 year old because he was the least drunk of all of the "adults". Supposedly there were several other bystanders who were shaking their heads and thinking and thinking the same thing: "They shouldn't be getting in that car..."

I guess no one wanted to spoil the party. What a way to start the summer.

My thoughts and.prayers for the kids .as for the people that let them get on that vehicle .well I won't speak what I think of them .

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So so sorry to hear about this tragedy Fate, my prayers go out to the children hoping they all can pull throw their injuries and that the Lord puts his hand in the healing process. This days with all the parties, Proms, beach, camping, we should all be vigilant on who is drinking and advice all about this sad things that happen every day and how can we help to avoid them. Yes speak up if u see something wrong, call the police on them or take their key and throw them away. Best to have a friend mad at you than dead. When I see my friends smoking I ask them to give me their cigarette box to help them tap it…. I tap it so hard I destroy all the cigarettes inside, they do get mad at me but I tell them I just gave you 2 extra days of life. Thank u for the post and reminder Fate, we will all pray for the kids and be vigilant.

I'm guilty of that behaviour used to ride or drive daily. I should have been arrested countless times.Fortune ,luck whatever you want to call it is why I'm still breathing and didn't cripple or kill anyone.I agree with everything you said above Mcfate.

Wow my thought and prayers for the kids. That really stinks.

I have had a bellyful of death and destruction at the hands of drunk drivers over the last 20 years. I am fine with throwing the book at them, but it is utterly hollow! Punishing these people does nothing for the families of their victims! Most of the time, the punishment victimizes the drunks spouse and kids too. And, the punishment does not even deter anyone else. Here is a troubling statistic gathered by MADD based on self reporting of inmates incarcerated for DWI offenses: of the people in jail for DWI, most estimate that they drove drunk 80-90 times before they were caught! Fate is right, speak up. Be freaking loud about it if you have to. Draw attention. Call the law if you have to. Tackle them and beat their ass if you have to, but stop them. Whew!!! I'm off my soap box now.

A horrible tragedy for sure, & one that could've been prevented if the "adult" would've been an actual responsible adult and not put those children's lives in jeopardy due to his drinking!

From everything I've been reading and seeing on the news over the past few years it seems that texting & driving has become even a bigger killer (by an order of magnitude) over drunk driving, especially as it has become so prevalent and commonplace in our modern society.

So PLEASE, don't drink & drive, nor text & drive!!